Venus Williams became one of the oldest players to win a WTA title when she beat Caroline Wozniacki in the final of the Auckland Classic yesterday.

The 34-year-old Williams took a little while to get going but managed to overcome the blustery conditions and a fired up Wozniacki to begin her Australian Open preparations by capturing her 46th career title.

The American, who lost the final on the central Auckland courts to Ana Ivanovic last year, had looked well out of sorts as she struggled to adjust to the wind and hot conditions before she eventually prevailed 2-6 6-3 6-3 in 110 minutes.

“I am an old tennis player now,” said Williams, who became the fourth oldest winner on the WTA Tour at 34 years, five months and 24 days, with only Billie Jean King, Kimiko Date-Krumm and Martina Navratilova having been older.

“I waited until I was 33 until I came to New Zealand and that was the biggest mistake of my life.”

[attach id=396443 size="medium"][/attach]

Maria Sharapova (picture) beat Ana Ivanovic in the final of the Brisbane International yesterday in a display that bodes well for her chances at the Australian Open.

It has been seven years since Sharapova won her only Australian Open title but if she can take her form from Brisbane to Melbourne, a second title does not seem out of the question.

Sharapova had to work hard to beat Ivanovic, coming from behind to beat her 6-7 6-3 6-3.

It was a match that could have gone either way but Sharapova proved too strong in the deciding third set at the Pat Rafter Arena.